A Hispanic social services organization with offices in several Montgomery County cities wants to open a Prince George’s location in a historic mansion in Langley Park.
According to an executive project summary on file with the Prince George’s County Council, CASA of Maryland wants to rehabilitate the 1924 McCormick-Goodhart Mansion for use as a multicultural services center. The organization has signed a 99-year lease with the mansion’s agent, Sawyer Realty Holdings, that includes a promise from Sawyer to help CASA find and get money from federal state and local sources to renovate the facility.
Representatives from CASA and Sawyer did not return phone calls Wednesday afternoon from The Examiner.
The summary says CASA expects to establish health and legal programs as well as classes in citizenship, civic participation and English as a second language. The center will be close to Langley Park’s immigrant community and within walking distance of about 2,000 residences. CASA will also offer space and use of shared facilities at the mansion to other organizations with similar goals.
The Prince George’s County Council recently approved a resolution supporting CASA’s plan to seek tax credits from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development for the project.
CASA’s Web site says the group was formed in 1985 by Central American refugees and North American residents. The organization helps meet the needs of immigrants through education, health, legal and other programs. CASA currently has offices in Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Wheaton, Germantown and Baltimore.
